Plant Displays
In this section you will find a wide variety of botanical displays to help students learn about plant diversity, adaptations and identification. Included are displays of plant parasites, plant defenses, leaf shapes and arrangements, stem adaptations, leaf venation, lichen forms, monocot and dicot characteristics, fern life cycles, conifer life cycles, algae types, wildflowers, fungi, poison oak and poison ivy identification, comparisons of hardwoods and softwoods, fruit types, commercial grains and oak leaves and acorns. All botanical displays are museum-quality and are mounted in glass-topped display cases.

Animal and Ecology Displays
In this section you will find an alphabetical listing of the animal and ecology displays offered by Acorn Naturalists. All are professionally mounted and labeled in glass-topped cases.

Animal Signatures® Displays
Just as we learn to identify the handwriting of others, we can learn to read signatures left by
wildlife. By recognizing animal clues, it is possible to determine which animals are in the area. This unique set of 6" x 8" glass-topped displays provides real
examples of these clues, or signatures. Samples are carefully collected-for example, our squirrel cones are collected after squirrels have chewed them. Scat
replicas are cast from field samples, worm castings from gardens, frass from where caterpillars have been feeding, and insect chewed leaves are collected and pressed. Ages 9-adult.

Create-A-Scene® Biome Display Kits
These kits feature a generous selection of natural materials
for a realistic appearance. Each biome kit includes six or more hand-painted animal replicas, and offers a unique mix of habitat-appropriate rocks, leaves, logs and substrate, along with an original line-drawing of
a background (to be colored in).
Additionally, the kit contains three extra blank cards for creating more scenes along with an “animal clue” item (such as a squirrel-chewed pine cone in the evergreen forest diorama) to add interest and intrigue. Creatively
supplement these hands-on displays
with locally collected resources. Each kit is packaged in a 11" long x 9" wide x 6" deep custom-designed stained wooden box with a sliding lid. Turn the box on its side to create the “theater” for the diorama. Includes instructions and suggestions for supplemental activities. Twelve different habitats from different biomes are offered. Each kit contains different blends of the resources listed above along with the specific animals listed below. For ages 7 and up.

Kind Fur® Replicas (swatches)
Replica fur (Kind Fur®) is an ideal resource for educators. Designed primarily to give children the look and feel of animal fur, these replicas go well with storytelling and discovery table activities. We need to emphasize, however, that these replicas are not study skins (they lack eye holes, ears, noses, paws and tails). On the other hand, unlike real fur, these replicas do not have special storage or treatment requirements. They also do not require knowledge of complex and ever-changing regulations regarding State of Origin fur tags, permits, transfers, and associated necessary record keeping.

Most importantly, Kind Fur® does not require trapping animals better left alive in the wild.
Regarding these replicas, it is important to note that in nature there is tremendous variation in fur color, even on a single specimen, let alone among the same
species in different locations or seasons. These replicas are close in appearance (and feel) to animal furs, but won't match perfectly with any given real fur.
Also, as can be the case with skull replicas, high-quality faux fur can sometimes cost more than real fur.

While realistic in appearance, replica fur can always
be identified by looking at the backing—replica fur have cloth fabric backing, as opposed to tanned animal hide.
Twenty-five years ago, Acorn Naturalists made a concerted effort to encourage people to embrace the skull replica concept to reduce demand for real skulls.
Acorn Naturalists is now pioneering the concept of replacing real fur with replica fur, or Kind Fur®.

You can download a complete description of all of the Kind Fur® replicas we offer by clicking here.

KIND FUR® SWATCHES (unboxed, two-sided, sewn). Perfect for carrying
in a backpack for discussions on the trail or for setting out at a discovery table. These Kind Furs®
are folded in half, and then hand-sewn around the edge. Each measures approximately 8 inches x 5 inches.

Kind Fur® Replicas (boxed)
Replica fur (Kind Fur®) is an ideal resource for educators. Designed primarily to give children the look and feel of animal fur, these replicas go well with storytelling and discovery table activities. We need to emphasize, however, that these replicas are not study skins (they lack eye holes, ears, noses, paws and tails). On the other hand, unlike real fur, these replicas do not have special storage or treatment requirements. They also do not require knowledge of complex and ever-changing regulations regarding State of Origin fur tags, permits, transfers, and associated necessary record keeping.

Most importantly, Kind Fur® does not require trapping animals better left alive in the wild.
Regarding these replicas, it is important to note that in nature there is tremendous variation in fur color, even on a single specimen, let alone among the same
species in different locations or seasons. These replicas are close in appearance (and feel) to animal furs, but won't match perfectly with any given real fur.
Also, as can be the case with skull replicas, high-quality faux fur can sometimes cost more than real fur.

While realistic in appearance, replica fur can always
be identified by looking at the backing—replica fur have cloth fabric backing, as opposed to tanned animal hide.
Twenty-five years ago, Acorn Naturalists made a concerted effort to encourage people to embrace the skull replica concept to reduce demand for real skulls.
Acorn Naturalists is now pioneering the concept of replacing real fur with replica fur, or Kind Fur®.

You can download a complete description of all of the Kind Fur® replicas we offer by clicking here.

KIND FUR® (boxed, one-si ded, glued). Acorn Naturalists. These Kind Furs® are securely adhered with non-toxic water-based
glue to the inside of a protective 12 inches long x 9 inches wide x 2 inches deep wooden slide-top box (custom crafted in the US for Acorn Naturalists'
Kind Furs®). Students can study and feel the fur, and slide the protective lid over it when done. Boxes are labeled on the back,
making it easy to set them out on a table for quiz games or activities such as matching a sample with skull, track or scat replicas.